The Don's Daughter: Love & Betrayal

Forty Nine

Damiano

"Listen Damiano, you're not allowed to be anything else other than a police officer. Do you hear me? That is the only thing you will be when you grow up so don't even think of dreaming about something else"

That's what mamma used to tell me. She drilled it into my head until I believed that what she said was true. That I wasn't allowed to be a doctor or a lawyer or even a business man. By the time I was ten, I'd forgotten what I wanted to be. If anyone asked, being a police man was my dream. Why? Because mamma said it was what I was meant to be. Honestly, there were times I resented her for forcing me into this career. At eighteen when my friends were going off to college, I was preparing myself to go into police academy. That was the time I truly hated her.

But I couldn't defy her because she was my mother and the only person I had in this world. For all her flaws, there was one thing I would never doubt and that was her love for me. She wanted me to grow up to be a respectable man, unlike my father. So I try to hate her less everyday. After all, she did what she thought was best for me. But for the past few months, I've come to wonder why I didn't rebel against her. If I had then I wouldn't have to do this. After everyone finds out who I am, I'm sure they'll all hate me. Especially Marianna.

We met at a park. That was after I'd spent months observing her and knowing her every move. Of course she doesn't know that. She also doesn't know that I approached her on purpose. To get into the Lombardi organization, I needed her help. It hadn't been easy, getting her to trust me or tell me about Carina. It took an year. If I say it was a long year, then I'd be lying. Without meaning to, I developed real feelings for her. More than once I wanted to make her happy so I did stupid things. Like meeting her mother so we could date officially.

Now that I think about it, she's the one person I would like to tell the truth to before everyone else. I don't want her to hate or despise me for lying. But I can't do that. Giovanni caught me so I had no choice but to tell him. So far he's promised not to do anything to me as long as I don't touch his daughters. Although they do illegal work, I would have offered them a deal because I know they didn't choose this life. Both of them were forced into it and I have an idea of how that feels. Not having a choice that is.

Decked in a three piece suit, I'm on way to the meeting I called. That's right, I can do that. The men in that room don't know that I am the one who called it since I asked Schiavone to keep it that way. As far as they know, they're there to discuss about what to do with Carina. Marino didn't like that she stopped the auction so I guess you can call this an emergency meeting. They can't wait to remove her as the head of the organization mostly because they don't like the idea of a woman leading them. A young woman at that. Aside from being criminals, they're also misogynists. Who knew?

Unlike last time when the meeting was held in a house, this time it's in the same restaurant Carina had barged in earlier this week and halted the human trafficking operations. Let's just say that after that, I had some kind of respect for that woman. I wasn't lying when I told Giovanni that his daughter was fearless. I also like the fact that she doesn't care about running the organization as much as her father does. It makes her the perfect person to have that position. Which is why I'm really sorry that I told on her. For Schiavone to call a meeting, the issue had to be important. What then is more important than finding out Lombardi's daughter, isn't really his daughter?

When I get to the restaurant, the guards stop me, asking for a password. You'd think men like them would come up with original ways to keep outsiders out. A password? Really? Anyway, Schiavone asked me to come to this meeting with proof that Carina/Marianna isn't Lombardi's daughter. I don't need proof because Giovanni will tell them the truth. When I enter the room, everyone is sitting around a table. They seem to be arguing about who will take over. Apparently they've already taken Carina out and are now deciding on the next boss.